Recess for Real Life: Blast Up to 400 Calories at the Playground!

For some, grade school will always be about playing hopscotch, dodgeball and four square (the actual game, not the app!), but you don't need to be a kid to work up a sweat on the playground. "There's a reason only 5 to 10 percent of the adult population works out consistently," says Brian Johnson, a clinical exercise physiologist and nutrition consultant who leads park workouts in Dallas. "Gym exercise is boring!"

So why not say sayonara to the Stairmaster this summer and take a recess from your regular gym routine? “Playground workouts incorporate the total body with natural movements that burn larger amounts of calories in far less time,” says Johnson. “Besides, being outdoors is free and so much more fun!”

Still not sold on freezing your gym membership? “Fixing ourselves to machines doesn’t help much in our everyday lives,” says Johnson. “Playgrounds provide more freedom, allowing your body to move in its own natural way, enhancing strengths and eliminating weaknesses.”

Check out the stats below for a side-by-side comparison of gym moves vs (fun) playground toners:

The Playground: Park Bench Push-Ups
Start in a straight-arm plank position with your hands on the bench and your feet on the ground (above). Lower your chest to the back of the bench seat, touching your chest to the bench. Your elbows should be bent slightly more than 90 degrees. Finish by pushing away from the bench and taking your arms back to a full straight position. Do as many as you can until your speed starts to slow down. Rest then return to your start position. Do 4 sets.Calories Burned: 175The Gym: 30 Minutes of Bench PressingCalories Burned: 150

The Playground: Slide Step-ups
Climb the stairs up to the top of a slide as fast as you can (above) and slide down. Immediately repeat 10 times.Calories Burned: 400The Gym: 30 Minutes on the Stairmaster Calories Burned: 350

The Playground: Jungle Gym Walk
Grab the first bar with both hands then alternate left to right, grabbing the bar in front of you and moving forward (above). Climb for 45 seconds. Rest for 20 seconds and repeat 6 times.Calories Burned: 350The Gym: 30 Minutes on the Elliptical MachineCalories Burned: 250

The Playground: Rock Wall Climb
Scale the wall as fast as possible (above). Climb or drop back down to the ground. Return to your start position. Do 6 sets.Calories Burned: 300The Gym: 30 Minutes on the Versaclimber Calories Burned: 350

The Playground: Monkey Bar Lifts
Using a horizontal bar, place your feet about two feet in front of you while holding the bar with both hands. Your body should be at a 45-degree angle from the ground with your arms extended above your head. Pull your chest up to the bar (above) and do as many pull-ups as you can until your speed starts to slow down. Return to your start position. Do 4 sets.Calories Burned: 250The Gym: 30 Minutes on the Pull-down Machine Calories Burned: 150